Over 100 asylum seekers are sleeping in tents outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street in Dublin.

It comes as figures released by the Department of Integration today show there are currently 1,010 asylum seekers without accommodation in the State.

The Government has now been unable to accommodate any newly arrived male asylum seekers to the country since the beginning of last December.

Over 1,000 asylum seekers ate now without any accommodation here, with the majority sleeping in tents on the streets.

The latest figures from the Department of Integration show 1010 international protection applicants are now without State accommodation.

Since the start of… pic.twitter.com/yamIWYlsue

— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) February 23, 2024

Speaking to Newstalk today, asylum seeker Ali said people “don’t feel safe” living on Mount Street as they are subjected to abuse and their possessions stolen.

“We don’t feel safe because many guys come in the nighttime; they stole bags and one guy stole a phone from my friend,” he said.

“This is very difficult, it’s too cold and there are no sleeping beds or blankets – we can’t sleep properly because of the coldness and rain.

“I hope nobody will spend one night in this condition - we are suffering.”

Tens housing asylum seekers outside of the International Protection Office today. Image: Newstalk/Barry Whyte.

Ali, who has been sleeping rough for 28 days now, said there are no bathroom facilities near them.

“We have two people sharing a tent and 60 tents [on Mount Street], but there is no toilet and no shower either,” he said.

"3km away from here to the main city centre there is a shower place the Government provided for us – but it’s very far from here.”

Difficult process

Another asylum seeker Amobi told Newstalk he has been sleeping outside the International Protection Office for three weeks now.

“This is not an easy process,” he said.

“Many people have spent two months plus here – I can’t say this is safe as for me it is not safe.

“It’s not good to sleep in a tent but I don’t have any choice – what can I do?”

Amobi said he is from Nigeria and arrived in Ireland through France.

“This happens everywhere [asylum seekers sleeping rough], not only Ireland,” he said.

“If I see a place where I can stay for the rest of my life then I don’t mind if I’m sleeping in a toilet.”

Additional reporting by Robert Kindregan. 

Main image: Tents housing asylum seekers pictured outside the International Protection Office in Dublin today. Image: Newstalk/ Barry Whyte